"What! Yo' big airship?"
"Yes."
"Huh! Dat's too bad, Massa Tom. I suah am sorry t' heah dat. Who done it?"
"We don't know, Rad."
"Maybe it was dat low-down cousin ob mine what tried t' git mah chickens, onct!"
"No, Rad, it wasn't your cousin. But I'll telephone the alarm to the police. They may be able to help me get the Eagle back."
Within the next hour several messages were sent to the authorities of nearby towns, asking them to be on the watch for the stolen airship. This was about all that could be done, and after Mr. Swift had been told the story of the night's happenings, everyone went back to bed again.
Further search the next morning brought forth no clews, though Tom, Ned and the others beat about in the bushes where the men had disappeared.
One or two reports were heard from surrounding towns, to the effect that several persons had heard a strange throbbing sound in the night, that, possibly, was caused by the passage of the airship overhead. One such report came from Waterford, the home town of Mr. Damon.
"Let's go over there," suggested Ned, to his chum. "I'd like to see our friend, and maybe we can get some other clews by circulating around there."